A home renovation project, whether on a small or large scale, if tackled correctly, has potential to increase the beauty and value of your home.

Whether you are renovating just one room or the whole house, it may give your home a fresh look, increase its  value, gain more living space, comfort and add a personalized touch.

On the other hand, a renovation means permits, planning, budgeting, finding a builder, and customizing your materials and finishes; a most tedious process.

But with planning, foresight, and timing, you can get assured of experiencing a simple and exciting renovation project.

While you have a clear picture and vision in your mind, having a checklist enables you to understand the process clearly, keep everything on track, avoid time overruns, and costly omissions.

Although every renovation project is different, here is our general renovation checklist for ordering your thoughts and breathing new life and beauty to your home

Research Your Plan And Vision

Keep a scrapbook with pictures and designs of what you love. Alternatively, find inspiration and create a library of ideas by doing your research on the internet, pinterest, magazines, other projects, taking photos, and saving what appeals to you digitally.

This enables you to create an early theme, architectural plan, and stick to it.

With a full-blown architecture plan and theme, it’s less frustrating and cheaper to correct mistakes before the remodeling progresses. For example, if you love a modern kitchen with an eclectic feel, find the style you like most and customize it to fit your taste.

Additionally, find what is affordable, and prioritize on must-haves and good-to-haves by gathering a mood board of your favorite material, finishes, appliances, and products. This will help you in determining and sticking to your budget.

Know Which Renovations Allowed Within Your Locality

In some states, you need building permits or building code inspections to remodel an existing structure. This means you can’t perform extensive plumbing and electrical work, house additional structural changes, kitchen, or bathroom renovation without your local building department’s approval.

However, for some jurisdictions, minor and ordinary jobs like door and window installation, roof repair, painting, and flooring don’t require a permit. Also, it’s worthwhile to obtain the standard timeline for processing your building application permit- these do vary from city to city.

Start Getting The Quotes

Get a rough quotation on your preferred design and plan for your materials, flooring, and interior decoration, architect, contractors, and insurance. With the prices at your disposal, it’s easy to make an informed judgment and create an attainable budget.

Create A Budget

Since renovation can become expensive quickly, to avoid overspending, create a comprehensive budget, and follow it religiously.

Research the average renovation price per sqm within your locality or seek advice from the architect and building association. With this information, it’s easy to calculate a renovation budget and adjust according to your needs and finances.

Think of renovation financing; is it home equity loan, remortgaging or savings, and establish a timeline according to funds availability.

Your estimated prices should include electrical work, accessories, appliances, flooring, professional hires, installation costs, retention sum, and extras. On the extra, it should cater for your living expenses during renovation, in case you move out.

Professionals Or DIY?

Professionals like architects and contractors don’t come cheap, but you are assured of amazing results. On the other hand, DIY saves you money, but if you lack the necessary skills, it might end up as a costly mess.

While deciding whether to DIY or choose professionals, consider your project timeline and budget and make your decision.

In case of a tight budget, hire professionals for crucial work. Don’t attempt to rewire your house but you may choose to paint the walls without prior experience.  For HVAC installations, engage the experts like the heating and cooling Brick NJ professionals. Regardless of DIY or professionals, don’t compromise on your style and vision.

Find The Right Professionals

For major renovations like moving a staircase, adding plumbing, knocking down walls, or creating new windows, you need the professional advice of architects and contractors.

Contact several architects and contractors and check out their portfolios to ensure they have handled a project similar to yours.

Search online, check reviews, or get referrals.

Give them an outline of your rough budget and renovation project, seek their advice, and ask for their quotes for shortlisting purposes. If possible, visit their latest project to have an overview of their work.

Shortlist the ones you like and make the final decision based on their work, reviews, pricing, timeline, and gut feeling.

Write Work Schedule

After defining your renovation process, create a work schedule, and prioritize work that stabilizes the structure. For example, you may notice that the wiring and plumbing of a particular room impacts the whole house or rewiring before the walls get replastered. Having a work schedule ensures your budget remains intact, and the aesthetic of your home is not affected.

Insurance

Most homeowners do insure their properties, but many companies don’t cover intensive building work. Meaning in case of alternations without informing your home insurance company and something goes wrong, your policy may become null and void.

It is also worth noting that home standard insurance policies don’t cover uninhabited houses; thus, if planning on moving out during the renovation process, inform your insurance company.

If you can afford renovation insurance, apply for one according to the levels of work being carried out. Additionally, ask your main contractor for site insurance and ensure you apply for one catering for public liability, legal expenses, employer’s liability, and damages on site.

Get Approval

With your architect and contractors ready on site, apply for council approval. To speed up the processes, talk with the neighbors first, and provide the needed documentation like survey, plans, and statement of environmental effects. Then, present your sound case for variations and comply with the council planning controls like not obstructing driveways or communal areas.

Additionally, appoint a certifier to inspect the renovation progress and forward the necessary certificates to the council to avoid legal battles in the future. Whether you select private or council certifiers, they should ensure the mandatory inspection is undertaken and certified by electrical, gas, and water providers, and structural engineers.

Stay on track

With your dream renovation underway, it’s advisable to stay on track by following the progress closely. This prevents irreversible surprises. Check out with the contractor at least twice a week and incase of any issues sort them immediately.

Defect Period

On completion, set aside a defect period (roughly26 weeks) to inform the contractor of faults like leaks, cracking, and unfinished elements that may develop over time.

The contractor must provide a remedy for such defects promptly, as indicated on the contract. It is advisable to retain 15% of the total payment cost until all errors get rectified. The insurance warranty or the owner covers any flaws discovered after 26 weeks.

Conclusion

Any renovation, regardless of the budget, needs a detailed checklist to avoid compromising on your vision, style and budget. Apply the above checklist tips and enjoy a hassle-free renovation project.

Author: Rita Purity